Methods and Apparatus for Providing Spectrum Access System Service Continuity

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing Spectrum Access System service continuity (e.g., radio service continuity). The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for identifying Spectrum Access System service provider outages and/or reliability problems in providing Spectrum Access System services.

In a wireless network, wireless base stations (e.g., Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) in Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) networks) serve as access points which can support wireless communications with mobile devices and/or terminals also referred to herein as user equipment devices (UEs). In some such wireless networks there are multiple tiers defining what frequency spectrum bands may be used and the amount of interference that the users may cause. In the CBRS wireless network for example there are three tiers. Tier 1 is an incumbent access tier. Tier 2 is a Priority Access Tier. Tier 3 is General Authorized Access tier. The Priority Access tier consists of Priority Access Licenses (PALs) that are licensed by the government to operate in a specific geographic area. With respect to the CBRS wireless system the Priority Access Licenses are on a county-by-county basis. Each PAL consisting of a 10 megahertz channel within the 3550-3650 MHz band. While the Priority Access Licenses must protect and accept interference from Incumbent Access users such as for example, authorized federal users in the 3550-3700 MHz band and Fixed Satellite Service (space-to-Earth) earth stations in the 3600-3650 MHz band, the Priority Access Licenses receive protection from General Authorized Access (GAA) users. The General Authorized Access tier is licensed-by-rule to permit open, flexible access to the band with the intent of allowing access to the widest possible group of potential users. While the GAA users are permitted to operate throughout the 3550-3700 MHz band, GAA users must not cause harmful interference to Incumbent Access users or Priority Access Licensees. Furthermore, GAA users must accept interference from the Incumbent Access users and the Priority Access Licensees. Moreover, GAA users have no expectation of interference protection from other GAA users. In shared spectrum wireless networks such as CBRS networks each wireless base station (e.g., CBSD) is connected to and registered with a network resource allocation management device which manages the utilization of the shared spectrum.

In CBRS networks the resource allocation management device is called the Spectrum Access System (SAS). The resource allocation management device, e.g., Spectrum Access System in a CBRS network, is a central processing and database system that receives and processes spectrum grant requests managing the utilization of the CBRS networks spectrum. In such wireless networks, e.g., CBRS network, interference is managed through power management of wireless base station devices (e.g., CBSD devices) by the resource allocation management device, e.g., the Spectrum Access System (SAS). The resource allocation management device (e.g., SAS) stores information regarding which wireless base station (e.g., CBSD) uses how much spectrum at which location in the wireless network, e.g., CBRS network. When a specific amount of GAA spectrum is granted to a particular wireless base station (e.g., CBSD) with a specific transmission power, the resource allocation management device (e.g., SAS) calculates the coverage of this wireless base station (e.g., CBSD) by using a path-loss model. The resource allocation management device (e.g., SAS) monitors and manages the interference caused by the different wireless base stations and adjusts the transmission power of the different wireless base stations to minimize the interference while maximizing the utilization of the limited frequency spectrum which is available.

With respect to CBRS systems, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated a limited number of SAS administrators (e.g., Google, Federated Wireless Systems, Sony, etc.) also referred to herein as SAS service providers which interface with the SAS (e.g., a cloud based SAS database) providing SAS services as defined per FCC regulations and requirements. Whenever a CBRS network operator wants to utilize CBRS spectrum, the CBRS operator needs to communicate with one of the SAS service providers to obtain SAS services such as the allocation of spectrum for use. With respect to most CBRS network operators, the SAS service providers are third party companies which are providing the SAS service required to operate using CBRS spectrum. Due to the service model used by these third party SAS service providers, in at least some instances they have different levels of availability (i.e., 99% or more etc. availability to handle requests for services). However, this level of availability is not always provided by a given third party SAS provider and an SAS infrastructure outage of the SAS service provider's system (e.g., failure of nodes or maintenance occurring on nodes of the SAS service provider's system) can result in a CBRS network operator's wireless network outage as well. This SAS service outage (i.e., an SAS service provider's system not being able to provide one or more SAS services (e.g., because of an SAS service provider system problem, outage or failure) negatively impacts CBRS network operator's wireless networks which are relying on the SAS service provider.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that there is a need for new and/or improved methods and apparatus for achieving ways to ensure that in the event a SAS service provider's system has a problem and/or outage, the impact on the wireless networks relying on the SAS service provider are minimized and/or eliminated. Furthermore, there is a need for new and/or improved methods and apparatus for solving the technical problem of how to provide a System Access System service provider backup in an efficient and cost effective way. Furthermore, there is a need for new and/or improved methods and apparatus for detecting, e.g., by a wireless network operator, problems and/or outages with the availability of services provided by an SAS service provider system. There is a further need for new and/or approved methods and apparatus for switching from a primary SAS service provider system to one or more backup SAS service provider systems upon the detection of problems and/or outages with the availability of services provided by the primary SAS service provider system in an effective and efficient manner (e.g., a cost effective and efficient manner) while minimizing and/or eliminating wireless network service interruptions at a wireless network receiving SAS services from the primary SAS service provider system. There is a further need to determine which SAS services provided by an SAS service provider are experiencing problems and/or are offline and provide alerts to an operator and/or users of the wireless network(s) which is relying upon the SAS service provider system.

The present invention provides new and/or improved methods and apparatus for ensuring that in the event a System Access System service provider's system has a problem and/or outage, the impact on the wireless networks relying on the SAS service provider are minimized and/or eliminated. Various embodiments of the present invention provide new and/or improved methods and apparatus for solving the technical problem of how to provide a System Access System service provider backup in an efficient and cost effective way. Various embodiments of the present invention provider new and/or improved methods and apparatus for detecting, e.g., by a wireless network operator, problems and/or outages with the availability of services provided by an SAS service provider system. Various embodiments of the present invention provider new and/or approved methods and apparatus for switching from a primary SAS service provider system to one or more backup SAS service provider systems upon the detection of problems and/or outages with the availability of services provided by the primary SAS service provider system in an effective and efficient manner (e.g., a cost effective and efficient manner) while minimizing and/or eliminating wireless network service interruptions at a wireless network receiving SAS services from the primary SAS service provider system. Various embodiments of the present invention provide new and/or improved methods and apparatus for determining which SAS services provided by an SAS service provider are experiencing problems and/or are offline and provide alerts to a network operator and/or users of the wireless network(s) which are relying upon the SAS service provider system.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a System Access System Switch and Availability Function (SSAF) entity tests the availability and performance of SAS services provided by a first SAS service provider system by sending it requests on behalf of one or more dummy wireless base stations (e.g., dummy CBSDs which are fictious non-existent CBSDs). Based on the results of the tests, when the SSAF entity determines that the first SAS service provider is experiencing problems, the SSAF entity switches the wireless base stations of the wireless network to a second SAS service provider system. The switchover also referred to as a move or migration may be, and in some embodiments is, performed without interrupting of minimizing the interruption of the wireless services being provided by the migrated base stations (e.g., radio continuity is maintained or interruptions minimized).

An exemplary method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: performing (e.g., by an SAS switch and availability function (SSAF) entity) one or more tests on a first Spectrum Access System (SAS) service provider system, said first SAS service provider system providing SAS services to one or more wireless base stations (e.g., CBSDs) of a first wireless network (e.g., a first CBRS network); and determining whether or not the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems providing SAS services to the first wireless network based on results of the one or more tests performed on the first SAS service provider system.

In some embodiments, the SAS services include one or more of the following: (i) wireless base station Spectrum Access System registration services, (ii) spectrum inquiry request services, (iii) spectrum grant request services, (iv) spectrum heartbeat request services, (v) spectrum usage authorization request services, (vi) spectrum relinquishment request services, and (vii) wireless base station SAS de-registration services.

In various embodiments, the first wireless network is a Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network; and the one or more wireless base stations are Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs).

In some embodiments, the one or more tests are performed by a Spectrum Access System switch and availability function (SSAF).

In some embodiments, the SSAF is implemented as a function of an Operating Service Systems (OSS) or Domain Proxy of the first wireless network.

In some embodiments, the functionality of the SSAF is implemented as a cloud service.

In some embodiments, the functionality of the SSAF is implemented using one or more entities, devices or nodes.

In various embodiments, the step of performing one or more tests on the first SAS service provider system includes requesting one or more SAS services be provided for a first dummy wireless base station (e.g., a first dummy CBSD) of the first wireless network, said first dummy wireless base station being a fictious non-existent wireless base station.

In some embodiments the step of performing one or more tests on the first SAS service provider system includes: requesting one or more SAS services be provided for a first dummy wireless base station (e.g., a first dummy CBSD) of the first wireless network, said first dummy wireless base station being a non-operating CBSD belonging to the first wireless base station (e.g., a CBSD owned by the first wireless network operator which is not in service and/or a CBSD registered with the FCC as belonging to the first wireless network but which is not in service). In some embodiments, the first dummy wireless base station is a fictious non-existent wireless base station.

In some embodiments, the method further includes that prior to performing said one or more tests on the first SAS service provider system, the SSAF performs the step of generating information for registering a first dummy wireless base station with a Spectrum Access System (e.g., an FCC Spectrum Access System).

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of storing, by the SSAF, the generated information for registering the first dummy wireless base station in a database.

In some embodiments, the information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with a Spectrum Access System includes fictious information (e.g., fictious information or made up information on the location at which the first dummy wireless base station is deployed).

In some embodiments, the information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with a Spectrum Access System further includes information corresponding to a wireless base station model certified with the Federal Communications Commission (e.g., fccid of a CBSD model which has been certified with the Federal Communications Commission—the same fccid corresponding to a certified CBSD model may be used for multiple CBSDs produced in accordance with the specifications of the certified model).

In some embodiments, the information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with a Spectrum Access System further includes information corresponding to an actual wireless base station (e.g., userid, fccid, cbsdSerialNumber of a certified CBSD which is not currently operational and will remain non-operational while the first dummy CBSD is registered with an SAS service provider).

In some embodiments, the first dummy wireless base station is a first dummy CBSD; and the information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with a Spectrum Access System includes one or more of the following: userid, fccid, cbsdSerialNumber, cbsdCategory, airinterface, measCapability, latitude, longitude, height, heightType, indoorDeployment, antennaAzimuth, antennaDowntilt, antennaGain, antennaBeamwidth for the first dummy CBSD.

In some embodiments, the information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with the Spectrum Access System includes fictitious information not corresponding to an actual CBSD (e.g., fictitious location information such as latitude, longitude and height of the deployment of the CBSD base station).

In some embodiments, the first dummy wireless base station is a first dummy CBSD; and the information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with a Spectrum Access System includes one or more of the following: userid, fccid, cbsdSerialNumber, cbsdCategory, airinterface, measCapability, latitude, longitude, height, heightType, indoorDeployment, antennaAzimuth, antennaDowntilt, antennaGain, antennaBeamwidth for the first dummy CBSD, said information for registering the first dummy wireless base station with the Spectrum Access System corresponding to an actual CBSD which is not operating.

In some embodiments, the step of performing one or more tests on the first SAS service provider system includes: emulating by the SAS switch and availability function one or more dummy CBSDs (e.g., non-operating and/or fictious CBSDs) requesting one or more SAS services from the first SAS service provider system. In some embodiments, the step of determining, by the SAS switch and availability function, which of the one or more SAS services requested by the SAS switch and availability function are experiencing problems based on one or more of the following: (i) one or more responses received by the SAS switch and availability function from the first SAS service provider system in response to the one or more SAS service requests, or (ii) failure to receive one or more responses by the SAS switch and availability function from the first SAS service provider system to the one or more SAS service requests.

In some embodiments, emulating by the SAS switch and availability function one or more dummy CBSDs requesting one or more SAS services from the first SAS service provider system includes: sending SAS service request messages to the first SAS service provider system requesting the one or more SAS services.

In some embodiments, the one or more SAS services are one or more of the following SAS services: (i) wireless base station Spectrum Access System registration services, (ii) spectrum inquiry request services, (iii) spectrum grant request services, (iv) spectrum heartbeat request services, (v) spectrum usage authorization request services, (vi) spectrum relinquishment request services, and (vii) wireless base station SAS de-registration services.

In some embodiments, the one or more tests performed on the first SAS service provider system include tests to register one or more dummy wireless base station (e.g., dummy CBSD) with a Spectrum Access System (SAS).

In some embodiments, the step of determining whether or not the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems providing SAS services to the first wireless network based on results of the one or more tests performed on the first SAS service provider system includes: making the determination that the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems providing SAS services to the first wireless network when the results of the one or more tests performed on the first SAS service provider system indicate that the SAS service provider system is unable to register the one or more dummy wireless base stations with the SAS.

In some embodiments, the step of determining whether or not the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems providing services to the first wireless network based on the results of the one or more tests performed on the first SAS service provider system includes: determining that the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems when the test results indicate no response was received for a threshold number of SAS requests (e.g., dummy CBSD registration requests, dummy CBSD spectrum grant requests, dummy CBSD heartbeat requests) sent to the first SAS service provider system by the SSAF on behalf of one or more dummy CBSDs within a first period of time, said one or more dummy CBSDs being fictious non-existent CBSDs.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the additional steps of: migrating or switching wireless base stations of the first wireless network to a second SAS service provider system in response to determining that the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems (e.g., has failed); performing on an on-going basis additional tests on the first SAS service provider system to determine when the first SAS service provider system SAS service has been restored (e.g., is back up and running); and upon detecting that the first SAS service provider system SAS service has been restored migrating or switching the wireless base stations of the first wireless network which had been switched to the second SAS service provider system back to the first SAS service provider system.

In some embodiments, the method further includes that prior to migrating or switching wireless base stations of the first wireless network to the second SAS service provider system, determining by the SSAF that a Spectrum Access System (SAS) is available, said SAS being an FCC SAS with which the first SAS service provider system is interacting to provide SAS services.

In some embodiments, the method further includes that prior to migrating or switching wireless base stations of the first wireless network to the second SAS service provider system, performing by the SSAF tests on the second SAS service provider system by sending dummy wireless base station service requests to the second SAS service provider system. In some embodiments, the SSAF upon detecting issue(s) with the first and/or second SAS service provider system (e.g., failure to provide one or more SAS services) send a notification to an operator of the SAS service provider system and/or the operator of the wireless network system.

The present invention is also applicable to apparatus and system embodiments wherein one or more devices implement the steps and/or operations and/or functions of the method embodiments. In some apparatus embodiments each of the wireless base station, user equipment devices, network equipment devices, Domain Proxy, Spectrum Access System Switch and Availability Function, Spectrum Access System service provider system, and each of the other apparatus/devices/nodes of the system include one or more processors and/or hardware circuitry, input/output interfaces including receivers and transmitters, and a memory. The memory including instructions when executed by one or more of the processors control the apparatus/device/node of the system to operate to perform the steps and/or functions of various method embodiments of the invention.

For example, a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a Spectrum Access System switch and availability function (SSAF) node including: memory; and a first processor that controls the SSAF node to perform the following operations: performing one or more tests on a first Spectrum Access System (SAS) service provider system, said first SAS service provider system providing SAS services to one or more wireless base stations (e.g., CBSDs) of a first wireless network (e.g., a first CBRS network); and determining whether or not the first SAS service provider system is experiencing problems providing SAS services to the first wireless network based on results of the one or more tests performed on the first SAS service provider system.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, it should be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include the same features and some of the features described above are not necessary but can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features, embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in the detailed description which follows.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is a tiered solution with the top tier dedicated for fixed satellite, wireless internet service providers as well as navy radar. The second tier consists of PAL (Priority Access Licensees) and the last tier consists of General Authorized Access (GAA). As previously discussed CBRS systems utilized shared spectrum which requires every single wireless base station referred to as Citizens Broadband Radio Services Devices (CBSDs) to be connected and registered to a Spectrum Access System (SAS) which manages the allocation and usage of the shared CBRS spectrum.

Access to the Spectrum Access System (SAS) (e.g., FCC SAS) is provided via Spectrum Access System (SAS) service providers also sometimes referred to as SAS administrators. The CBRS SAS service providers are designated and/or certified by the FCC. The SAS service providers operate SAS service provider systems which provide SAS services to CBRS system operators in accordance with government (e.g., FCC regulations). See for example 47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47—Telecommunications Charter I—Federal Communications Commission Subcharter D—Safety and Special Radio Services Part 96 Citizens Broadband Radio Service (Feb. 27, 2024) which identifies various requirements and regulations governing the operation of a CBRS network in the United States including requirements for the operation of user equipment devices, wireless base stations, and Spectrum Access Systems.

SAS service providers include for example Google, Sony and Federated Wireless System and are for the most part third parties to the CBRS network system operators. CBRS network system operators must utilize these SAS service providers to interact with the Spectrum Access System in order to operate. Among the SAS services offered by SAS service provider systems to wireless base stations (e.g., CBSDs) are registration service, de-registration service, spectrum inquiry service, spectrum grant service, heartbeat service, spectrum relinquishment service. The SAS service provider system will also perform authentication and authorization services for CBSDs with an SAS which is sometimes performed as part of the registration service. This includes the authentication or verification of the FCC identifier of any CBSD seeking access to the SAS's services is valid (i.e., FCC identification number supplied by a CBSD is for a certified device) and occurs prior to the SAS providing services.

The spectrum related services include spectrum inquiry services which include the evaluation of available spectrum in an area with respect to interference, spectrum grant services in which requested spectrum is granted to a CBSD for use to provide services, spectrum heartbeat services wherein a CBSD provides a heartbeat request message to request authorization to transmit utilizing the granted spectrum and receives in a heartbeat response message a transmitExpireTime, heartbeat interval, and a grant expiration time, and spectrum relinquishment requests in which the CBSD requests to release a spectrum grant it is no longer using.

Wireless network systems typically utilize an OSS or Domain Proxy that acts as an intermediary between the SAS service provider system and devices (e.g., CBSDs) sending SAS service requests. The SAS service provider system acts an intermediary between the Domain Proxy and the SAS. The service requests can be sent to a SAS administrator or system provider system via messages, a portal and/or an API.

As the SAS services provided by SAS service providers are mandatory for operation of CBSDs in a CBRS system, when an SAS service provider's system experiences problems (e.g., the SAS service provider system fails such that it can not provide one or more of the above discussed services) this negatively impacts the operation of CBSDs relying upon the SAS service provider system. The severity of the impact depending at least in part on the SAS service which has failed. For example, if the registration of CBSDs service fails but the other SAS services continue to be provided then only activation and registration of CBSDs will be affected but the CBSDs already registered and operating will not be impacted. This is less severe than a SAS service outage in which the service is the spectrum heartbeat service. If the SAS heartbeat service fails the spectrum granted and being used by all CBSDs will be affected and an entire CBRS network can be taken out of service as CBSDs lose the ability to utilize spectrum due to the failure of heartbeat requests.

Various embodiments of the present invention include new and/or improved methods and apparatus for a CBRS system to monitor and detect problems with a primary SAS service provider which is providing SAS services to the CBSDs of the CBRS system. Additionally, various embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for automatically switching from utilizing the primary SAS service provider system for one or more SAS services in response to the detection of a problem with the primary SAS service provider system to utilizing a backup SAS service provider system until the affected SAS services of the primary SAS service provider system have been restored and/or resolved. This provides redundancy when there is a SAS service outage of the primary SAS service provider system while not requiring a full subscription with the backup SAS service provider system as it is only utilized when the primary SAS service provider system experiences a service outage. Only paying for subscription services on the backup SAS service provider system during primary SAS service provider system outages as opposed to a full subscription covering all times provides financial savings.

In some embodiments, there is a single primary SAS service provider system used by the CBRS network operator and a plurality of backup service SAS service provider systems. Upon the detection of the problems and/or issues (e.g., the failure) of the primary SAS service provider system, an SAS switch and availability function (SSAF), migrates CBSDs to the backup SAS service provider systems (e.g., if there are 3 back up services providers then a first percentage of the CBSDs are migrated to the first back up SAS service provider system, a second percentage of the CBSDs are migrated to the second backup SAS service provider system, and a third percentage are migrated to the third backup SAS service provider system. The first, second and third percentages combined being equal to or less than 100%. The combination of the first, second and third percentages being less than 100% for example when a particular SAS service of the primary SAS service provider has failed, but the failure is not impacting all of the CBSDs, e.g., if only the SAS spectrum grant service of the primary SAS service provider system is experiencing problems and/or failed, CBSDs which have already been granted spectrum and do not need to utilize the SAS grant service, may not be migrated to a backup SAS service provider system.

Various embodiments of the present invention include new and/or improved methods and/or apparatus to determine: (i) if a primary SAS service provider system is operating as expected, e.g., all SAS services are up and running, (ii) if the SAS service provider system is not operating as expected which of the SAS services and/or functions are not operating as expected, are down, and/or experiencing problems and/or failures, and (iii) if the SAS service provider is not operating as expected whether the overall SAS service (i.e., all SAS services provided by the SAS service provider system) is not operating as expected, is down and/or has failed. In addition, various embodiments of the present invention include new and/or improved methods and apparatus for moving the CBSDs registered with a primary SAS service provider system experiencing problems to a backup SAS service provider system (time based service) which is functioning as expected (e.g., for the duration of the outage of the primary SAS service provider system) and upon determination of the restoration of the primary SAS service provider system operation moving the CBSD back the primary SAS servicer provider system. Various embodiments of the present invention address the technical problem of CBRS network outages due to SAS service provider system problems, failures and/or outages and problems of how to avoid and/or minimize CBRS service interruptions due to SAS service provider problems. Furthermore, various embodiments provide an economical solution that does not require a continuous reliance on a backup SAS Service provider system.

illustrates elements of an exemplary systemin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Systemincludes a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network operated by a wireless network operator (e.g., a CBRS network operator) including a plurality of wireless base stations referred to as Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) (CBSD, CBSD, CBSD, CBSD, CBSD), a core network, an Operations Support Systems (OSS) including a Domain Proxy (OSS/Domain Proxy) (OSS/DP), a System Access System Switch and Availability Function (SSAF) entity, a database system, and a plurality of user equipment devices (UE, UE, UE, UE, UE, UE, UE, UE, UE, UE, . . . , UE X). The systemfurther includes a first System Access System (SAS) service provider system (SAS provider), a second System Access System service provider system (SAS provider), a System Access System (SAS)(e.g., a Federal Communications Commission cloud SAS) and a plurality of communications links which couple and/or connect the various elements of the systemallowing for the exchange or messages, data, and/or information. The Citizens Broadband Radio Service network operates in the 150 MHz of spectrum (from 3.55 to 3.7 GHz) in the 3.5 GHz band (“Band”). The core networkis coupled and/or connected to CBSD, CBSD, CBSD, CBSD, CBSDvia communications links,,,, andrespectively. The communications links,,,, andare typically high speed wired, fiber and/or optical communications links. However, in some embodiments, one or more of the communications links,,,andare wireless communications links. While only two SAS service provider systems are shown a plurality of SAS service provider systems greater than 2 can be, and in some embodiments are, included in the system, e.g., a plurality of N SAS servicer provider systems where N is a positive integer greater than 2.

The CBSDhas a wireless coverage area. The CBSDhas a wireless coverage area. The CBSDhas a wireless coverage area. The CBSDhas a wireless coverage are. The CBSDhas a wireless coverage area. The user equipment devices are typically end-point wireless devices such as for example smartphones, laptops, tablets, wireless sensors, wireless smart devices (appliances), computers, etc. which communicate using CBRS spectrum with the CBSDs of systemusing CBRS spectrum allocated to the CBSD. The CBRS spectrum is managed by the SAS. In some embodiments, one or more of the user equipment devices are replaced with wireless devices such as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices, other CBSDs or wireless gateways which include a wireless interface which emulates a user equipment device allowing the wireless device to communicate with and be provided wireless services from a CBSD (e.g., wireless device to device connections for CBSD to CBSD backhaul and/or other purposes). The CPE device for example being a stationary device located at a customer premises which communicates wirelessly with a CBSD using CBRS bandwidth while also providing services to user equipment devices located at the customer premises at which it is located, e.g., wired and/or wireless communications links (e.g., Wi-Fi services, CBRS service, hardwired connections). In the exemplary system, UE, UEand UEare wirelessly coupled and/or connected to CBSD; UEand UEare wirelessly coupled and/or connected to CBSD; UEand UEare wirelessly coupled and/or connected to CBSD; UEis wirelessly coupled and/or connected to CBSD; UE, UE, . . . , UE Xare wirelessly coupled and/or connected to CBSD. The user equipment devices being provided wireless services by the CBSD to which they are coupled and/or connected using CBRS spectrum allocated to the CBSD by the SASwhich manages the use of CBRS spectrum. The user equipment devices (or CPE devices, gateways or other base stations which include user equipment device emulators) of systemhave receiving and transmitting circuitry allowing each of these devices to wirelessly communicate using spectrum (e.g., CBRS spectrum such as PAL or GAA spectrum utilized by the wireless network operator). One or more of the user equipment devices may be, and in many embodiments are, mobile devices which receive wireless services from different CBSDs as the user equipment devices move between different coverage areas of the different CBSDs of system. While the systemonly shows five CBSDs and a limited number of user equipment devices, this is only exemplary and for the sake of simplicity in explaining the invention. In actual implementations, the large numbers (e.g., thousands) of base stations including micro and/or macro base stations may be, and in some embodiments are implemented, with large numbers (e.g., thousands and/or hundreds of thousands) of user equipment devices being supported by the CBRS network.

The core networkis coupled and/or connected to the OSS/Domain Proxyvia communications link. In some embodiments, the SSAF entityis part of or included in the OSS/Domain Proxy. While in some embodiments the OSS includes the Domain Proxy functionality, in some other embodiments, the Domain Proxy is implemented as a separate entity from the OSS. In some embodiments, the SSAF functionality may be included in either the OSS and/or the Domain Proxy if they are separate elements. Communications links,, . . . ,couple and/or connect the OSS/Domain Proxyto the SAS service provider system, SAS service provider, . . . , SAS service provider system Nrespectively. The communications linkcouples and/or connects the OSS/Domain Proxyto the SSAF entity. Communications linkcouples and/or connects the SSAF entityto the SAS provider system. Communications links, . . . ,couple and/or connect the SSAF entityto the SAS provider system, . . . , SAS service provider system N. The communications linkcouples and/or connects the SSAF entityto the database. The communications linkcouples and/or connects the SSAF entityto the SAS. The communications linkscouples and/or connects the SAS provider systemto the SAS. The communications links, . . . ,couples and/or connects the SAS service provider system, . . . , SAS service provider N to the SASrespectively. Typically, the communications links,,,,,,,,,,,, andare typically high speed wired, fiber and/or optical communications links but can also be wireless links.

In some embodiments, the CBRS wireless network is a 4G wireless network. In some of these embodiments, the CBSDs are implemented as eNodeBs. In some embodiments, the CBRS network is a 5G wireless network. The CBSDs in 5G wireless networks may be, and in some embodiments are, implemented as gNodeBs or eNodes as 5G wireless networks support both eNodeBs and gNodeBs.

illustrates an exemplary systemimplemented using 5G wireless technology in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Systemincludes a wireless network (e.g., a 5G wireless network implemented as a CBRS wireless network operated by a wireless network operator (e.g., Charter Communications). The use of 5G technology in systemis merely exemplary and for the sake of clarity in explaining the invention. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to 5G technology but may be, and in some embodiments is, implemented using other wireless technologies, e.g., 4G, LTE, etc.